System for cardiac ultrasound image acquisition
An ultrasound image acquisition device initiates acquisition of anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy in response to a heart rate related synchronization signal. The ultrasound image acquisition device includes multiple ultrasound transducers for generating sound waves. The ultrasound transducers are arranged in different transducer groups oriented to enable acquisition of different ultrasound imaging information used in generating a single composite ultrasound image. A synchronization processor derives the heart rate related synchronization signal from a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter. The synchronization signal enables adaptive activation of a particular group of the different transducer groups for acquisition of ultrasound imaging information used in generating the single composite ultrasound image. A display processor presents the single composite ultrasound image, acquired by the ultrasound image acquisition device, to a user on a reproduction device.
Latest Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. Patents:
- Helical PET architecture
- Model-based injected dose optimization for long axial FOV PET imaging
- Shear wave imaging based on ultrasound with increased pulse repetition interval
- Direct chip-on-array for a multidimensional transducer array
- Continuous bed motion acquisition with axially short phantom for PET imaging system setup and quality control
This is a non-provisional application of provisional application Ser. No. 61/153,067 filed Feb. 17, 2009, by H. Zhang.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention concerns an ultrasound medical imaging system for adaptively acquiring anatomical images involving activating different transducer groups for acquisition of ultrasound imaging information presented in a composite ultrasound image.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONUltrasound medical imaging is used for imaging the heart and surrounding intra-thoracic structures. However known ultrasound image scanning and acquisition systems typically employ a fixed time interval between frames and fail to effectively scan for optimum imaging results for real time clinical monitoring and diagnosis. Known systems employ surface ECG signals for image gating to avoid cardiac contraction noise, for example, but offer limited gating capability for studying particular cardiac functions. Continuous image scanning and acquisition, such as intra-cardiac ultrasound imaging is used to study cardiac operation and treatment. However, known systems fail to comprehensively perform cardiac function tracking of maximum size and volume of ventricle chambers, for example, in the presence of cardiac tissue movement.
Known intra-cardiac ultrasound imaging usually captures a tissue dynamic image with 30-60 frames per second (fps) speed. However cardiac depolarization and repolarization, such as a QRS complex and contraction procedure are desirably imaged at a higher speed for accurate determination of detail of cardiac pathology changes. In known ultrasound systems, the time interval between image frame acquisition is typically equal and fixed (uniform scanning). This may result in missing capture of a fast contraction image frame, such as EoS (end of systolic) and EoD (end of diastolic) time image frame. In known systems for performing continuous ultrasound imaging, the image resolution, scanning speed/rate and sensitivity is not controllable once an image scanning procedure is initiated. Some known systems employ faster, multi-channel (crystal) intra-cardiac ultrasound image scanning with high power (intensity). These systems may over heat intra-cardiac ultrasound sensors and a catheter and may over scan (perform redundant scanning) without capturing useful information, such as during rest time of a heart cycle. Further because of an upper limit on ultrasound image scanning speed, intra-cardiac ultrasound may be distorted by cardiac contraction, patient movement, and other bio-noise (such as respiration). A system according to invention principles addresses these deficiencies and related problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn ultrasound medical imaging system automatically determines image resolution, scanning frequency and acquisition speed in response to data indicating a clinical application and cardiac function signals including hemodynamic (blood pressure) signals and vital sign (such as SPO2, respiration, NIBP) signals used to trigger and synchronize image scanning and data acquisition. An ultrasound medical imaging system adaptively acquires anatomical images using an ultrasound image acquisition device. The ultrasound image acquisition device initiates acquisition of anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy in response to a heart rate related synchronization signal. The ultrasound image acquisition device includes multiple ultrasound transducers for generating sound waves. The ultrasound transducers are arranged in different transducer groups oriented to enable acquisition of different ultrasound imaging information used in generating a single composite ultrasound image. A synchronization processor derives the heart rate related synchronization signal from a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter. The synchronization signal enables adaptive activation of a particular group of the different transducer groups for acquisition of ultrasound imaging information used in generating the single composite ultrasound image. A display processor presents the single composite ultrasound image, acquired by the ultrasound image acquisition device, to a user on a reproduction device.
A system improves medical imaging using non-uniform and nonlinear cardiac functional signals such as hemodynamic signals (invasive blood pressure, non-invasive blood pressure, blood flow speed), electrophysiological signals (surface ECG, intra-cardiac electrograms, both unipolar and bipolar signals), and vital signs signals (SPO2, respiration), to trigger and synchronize image scanning and data acquisition. The image resolution, scanning frequency and acquisition speed of the ultrasound image system is automatically determined in response to cardiac functions and a clinical application. The system uses ultrasound imaging for better quantitative and qualitative diagnosis and characterization of cardiac function and patient health status.
The system image gating and synchronization function is advantageously adaptively dynamically configured to use one or a combination of signals for different kinds of clinical applications and procedures. The combination of signals include, for example, blood pressure (hemodynamic) signals and a signal derived from heart chamber size or volume estimation. The clinical applications and procedures include an intra-cardiac blood pressure based 3D image reconstruction application and intra-cardiac electrograms (electrophysiological) and vital signal based motion tolerance ultrasound image acquisition applications. The system optimizes image frame acquisition time for image scanning and data acquisition and employs image gating for synchronization based on heart functions, such as cardiac systolic and diastolic functions which may require different speeds for image scanning and acquisition. The gating reduces over heating risk associated with continuous intra-cardiac ultrasound imaging and reduces need to adaptively adjust scanning speed and improves continuous ultrasound image acquisition.
The system advantageously provides non-uniform (controllable and function adaptive) time interval image scanning to improve continuous capture of cardiac function detail and tissue movement. The system facilitates EoD and EoS based maximum ventricle volume calculation and analysis by using precise cardiac function gating and synchronization to acquire a series of cardiac images each having the same particular time stamp. The time stamp identifies a particular point in a heart cycle that starts from a designated time origin (time equals zero) heart cycle point. The system facilitates 3D ultrasound image reconstruction of a particular cardiac function with the same particular time stamp in different cardiac cycles. In contrast, known ultrasound image scanning in 3D provides a reconstructed image typically involving substantial deviation and distortion resulting from combining images with different time stamps. The system is usable with a multi-channel intra-cardiac ultrasound transducer and catheter capable of adaptive adjustment and modification during real time continuous scanning.
Ultrasound image acquisition catheter device 36 initiates acquisition of anatomical images of a portion of patient 9 anatomy in response to a heart rate related synchronization signal. Device 36 includes multiple ultrasound transducers for generating sound waves. The multiple ultrasound transducers are arranged in different transducer groups and oriented to enable acquisition of different ultrasound imaging information used in generating a single composite ultrasound image. Synchronization processor 19 derives the heart rate related synchronization signal from a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter. The synchronization signal enables adaptive activation of a particular group of the different transducer groups for acquisition of ultrasound imaging information used in generating the single composite ultrasound image. Display processor 26 presents the single composite ultrasound image, acquired by the ultrasound image acquisition device, to a user on a reproduction device 39.
Synchronization processor 19 generates a synchronization waveform for gated ultrasound image acquisition of maximum and minimum volume of a ventricle (corresponding to EoD and EoS points) in a cardiac cycle using time stamps. System 10 adaptively employs different types of non-uniform ultrasound image scanning including, non-uniform triggering by time for all or a substantial portion of all crystals of an ultrasound catheter in response to a signal identifying a particular cardiac function time. System 10 uses non-uniform triggering of sequential crystals in response to a signal identifying a particular cardiac function time in a particular cardiac region. Ultrasound systems have multiple channel crystals (e.g., 80-128 channel crystals) for fast scanning speed (for example, from 30 fps (frames per second) to 100 fps, or higher). Power applied to ultrasound crystals to increase sound intensity may be increased to increase the sensitivity and quality of an intra-cardiac ultrasound image. However this may increase safety concerns. Usually a thermister is used at the tip of an intra-cardiac ultrasound transducer, however heat generation may not be uniform and result in local over-heating of a multi-channel ultrasound transducer even though continuous ultrasound high intensity scanning may be unnecessary.
Ultrasound image acquisition device 15 performs ultrasound image scanning and acquisition in step 821 gated and synchronized using a trigger signal derived by synchronization processor 19 in step 841. System 10 adaptively adjusts image scanning and acquisition parameters using cardiac function based gating and synchronizing signals including a patient signal (waveform or synchronization pulse) and derived trigger signals (such as frequency, energy, spectrum, dominant time or frequency signal components). Synchronization processor 19 derives the trigger signal in step 841 using input signals provided in step 839 including cardiac hemodynamic signals (including an intra-cardiac blood pressure signal, temperature signals, a blood flow speed signal), vital signs signals (including non-invasive (and invasive) blood pressure signals, respiration signals, SPO2 signal) and cardiac electrophysiological signals (including surface ECG signals, intra-cardiac electrograms, both unipolar and bipolar signals). The input signals are acquired in step 836 and digitized and conditioned by patient monitoring system 12 and sent to imaging system 15 in step 839. System 10 tunes image scanning and acquisition based on the signals, to obtain an optimum image for a specific application such as maximum chamber volume calculation with motion noise rejection. Specifically, imaging device 15 parameters are selected in step 809 and imaging acquisition is controlled in step 821, in response to physician commands entered in step 813.
Two dimensional image data acquired in step 821 is processed in step 822 by imaging device 15 to form a 3D imaging dataset and to be suitable for automated and physician interpretation for diagnosis. In step 823 imaging device 15 selects a process to use for analysis of an acquired image to determine, medical condition, severity, time step used between image acquisitions, chamber volume and to derive a 3D image reconstruction from a 2D image, for example. Selectable processes include a process for chamber edge determination for maximum chamber area and volume analysis and image registration for vessel and chamber analysis.
In step 825 imaging device 15 performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of the dataset generated in step 822 using a process selected in step 823. Specifically, imaging device 15 performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of the dataset to identify and characterize abnormal cardiac functions and pathologies to determine image associated parameters and calculate image associated values and identify a particular medical condition by mapping determined parameters and calculated values to corresponding value ranges associated with medical conditions using mapping information in repository 17. Imaging device 15 also determines medical condition severity and chamber volume, for example. Steps 822 and 825 are iteratively repeated in response to manual or automatic direction in step 828 to identify medical condition characteristics in one or more different acquired images. In response to completion of iterative image analysis, imaging device 15 in step 831 determines location, size, volume, severity and type of medical condition as well as time within a heart cycle. Imaging device 15 initiates generation of an alert message for communication to a user in step 837 and provides medical information for use by a physician in making treatment decisions. Imaging device 15 in step 833 presents images synchronized with a synchronization signal, to a user on reproduction device 39 or a printer and stores images in repository 17.
In step 918 synchronization processor 19 derives first and different second synchronization signals using a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter and an ECG or ICEG signal. The patient blood flow related parameter indicates at least one of, (a) invasive blood pressure, (b) non-invasive blood pressure, (c) blood flow velocity, (d) blood flow acceleration and (e) blood flow frequency. In one alternative, the heart rate related synchronization signal comprises a signal synchronized with end-diastolic pressure in a cardiac cycle and derived from a non-invasive blood pressure monitoring device or from a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring device. In another alternative, the heart rate related synchronization signal comprises a signal synchronized with end-systolic pressure in a cardiac cycle derived from a non-invasive blood pressure monitoring device or a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring device. In a further alternative, the synchronization signal is derived from parameter data derived from a patient blood flow related parameter comprising a blood pressure gradient indicator. Further, image acquisition device 15 acquires multiple 2D anatomical images of a patient heart in substantially the same operational phase over multiple heart beat cycles in response to a synchronization signal derived from the patient blood flow related parameter. The same operational phase comprises at least one of, (a) an end of diastolic pressure (ED) phase and (b) an end of systolic pressure (ES) phase.
Device 15 in step 920 activates a first group of the different transducer groups in response to the first synchronization signal for acquiring first ultrasound imaging information and in step 923 activates a second group of the different transducer groups in response to the different second synchronization signal for acquiring second ultrasound imaging information. In one embodiment, the first group of the different transducer groups is activated in response to a blood flow related parameter and a second group of the different transducer groups is activated in response to an ECG or ICEG signal. In step 926 device 15 generates a single composite ultrasound image from the acquired first and second ultrasound imaging information and in step 929 presents the single composite ultrasound image on reproduction device 39. The process of
A processor as used herein is a device for executing stored machine-readable instructions for performing tasks and may comprise any one or combination of, hardware and firmware. A processor may also comprise memory storing machine-readable instructions executable for performing tasks. A processor acts upon information by manipulating, analyzing, modifying, converting or transmitting information for use by an executable procedure or an information device, and/or by routing the information to an output device. A processor may use or comprise the capabilities of a controller or microprocessor, for example. A processor may be electrically coupled with any other processor enabling interaction and/or communication there-between. A processor comprising executable instructions may be electrically coupled by being within stored executable instruction enabling interaction and/or communication with executable instructions comprising another processor. A user interface processor or generator is a known element comprising electronic circuitry or software or a combination of both for generating display images or portions thereof. A user interface comprises one or more display images enabling user interaction with a processor or other device.
An executable application comprises code or machine readable instructions for conditioning the processor to implement predetermined functions, such as those of an operating system, a context data acquisition system or other information processing system, for example, in response to user command or input. An executable procedure is a segment of code or machine readable instruction, sub-routine, or other distinct section of code or portion of an executable application for performing one or more particular processes. These processes may include receiving input data and/or parameters, performing operations on received input data and/or performing functions in response to received input parameters, and providing resulting output data and/or parameters. A user interface (UI), as used herein, comprises one or more display images, generated by a user interface processor and enabling user interaction with a processor or other device and associated data acquisition and processing functions.
The UI also includes an executable procedure or executable application. The executable procedure or executable application conditions the user interface processor to generate signals representing the UI display images. These signals are supplied to a display device which displays the image for viewing by the user. The executable procedure or executable application further receives signals from user input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, light pen, touch screen or any other means allowing a user to provide data to a processor. The processor, under control of an executable procedure or executable application, manipulates the UI display images in response to signals received from the input devices. In this way, the user interacts with the display image using the input devices, enabling user interaction with the processor or other device. The functions and process steps herein may be performed automatically or wholly or partially in response to user command. An activity (including a step) performed automatically is performed in response to executable instruction or device operation without user direct initiation of the activity.
The system and processes of
Claims
1. An ultrasound medical imaging system for adaptively acquiring anatomical images, comprising:
- an ultrasound image acquisition device to acquire anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy in response to a heart rate related synchronization signal, said ultrasound image acquisition device including a plurality ultrasound transducers to generate sound waves, said plurality of ultrasound transducers being arranged in different transducer groups each comprising a plurality of the ultrasound transducers configured at different angle orientations in increments in a range of 0 to 360 degrees around the ultrasound image acquisition device to enable 360 degree acquisition of different ultrasound imaging information at a same particular time within a same heart cycle to generate a single composite ultrasound image without a need to move the ultrasound image acquisition device;
- a synchronization processor for deriving said synchronization signal from a combination of at least one hemodynamic signal representative of a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter and other patient monitoring signals, said synchronization signal enabling adaptive activation of a particular group of said different transducer groups for acquisition ultrasound imaging information at the same particular time within a same heart cycle to generate said single composite ultrasound image,
- wherein said synchronization processor provides a heart-rate related synchronization signal derived from said at least one hemodynamic signal representative of a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter and other patient monitoring signals including an ECG (electrocardiogram) or ICEG (intra-cardiac electrogram) signal and a first group of said different transducer groups is activated in response to said at least one hemodynamic signal representative of a blood flow related parameter and a second group of said different transducer groups is activated in response to said ECG or ICEG signal;
- and a display processor for presenting said single composite ultrasound image, acquired by said ultrasound image acquisition device, to a user on a reproduction device.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said image acquisition device adaptively selects image pixel resolution of individual image frames of said anatomical images in response to data identifying a heart cycle segment to acquire successive image frames have different image pixel resolutions within a single heart cycle.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said heart-rate related synchronization signal comprises a signal synchronized with end-diastolic pressure in a cardiac cycle.
4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the end-diastolic pressure synchronized signal is derived from a non-invasive blood pressure monitoring device.
5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the end-diastolic pressure synchronized signal is derived from a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring device.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said heart-rate related synchronization signal comprises a signal synchronized with end-systolic pressure in a cardiac cycle.
7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the end-systolic pressure synchronized signal is derived from a non-invasive blood pressure monitoring device.
8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the end-systolic pressure synchronized signal is derived from a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring device.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hemodynamic signal representative of patient blood flow related parameter indicates at least one of, (a) invasive blood pressure, (b) non-invasive blood pressure, (c) blood flow velocity, (d) blood flow acceleration and (e) blood flow frequency.
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said synchronization signal is derived from parameter data derived from said at least one hemodynamic signal representative of a patient blood flow related parameter.
11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said parameter data derived from said patient blood flow related parameter is a blood pressure gradient indicator.
12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said image acquisition device acquires a plurality of 2D anatomical images of a patient heart in substantially the same operational phase over a, plurality of heartbeat cycles in response to said synchronization signal derived from said from said at least one hemodynamic signal representative of patient blood flow related parameter.
13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said same operational phase comprises at least one of, (a) an end of diastolic pressure (ED) phase and (b) an end of systolic pressure (ES) phase.
14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of ultrasound transducers generate sound waves in response to a control signal.
15. An ultrasound medical imaging system for adaptively acquiring anatomical images, comprising: an ultrasound image acquisition device to acquire anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy, said ultrasound image acquisition device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers to generate sound waves and a first group of said plurality of ultrasound transducers being activated in response to a first synchronization signal and a second group of said different transducer groups is activated in response to a different second synchronization signal, said plurality of ultrasound transducers being arranged in different transducer groups and each comprising a plurality of the ultrasound transducers configured at different angle orientations in increments in a range of 0 to 360 degrees around the ultrasound image acquisition device to enable 360 degree acquisition of different ultrasound imaging information at a same particular time within a same heart cycle to generate a single composite ultrasound image without a need to move the ultrasound image acquisition device;
- a synchronization processor for deriving said synchronization signals from a combination of at least one hemodynamic signal representative of a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter and other patient monitoring signals, said synchronization signal enabling adaptive activation of a particular group of said different transducer groups for acquisition of ultrasound imaging information to generate said single composite ultrasound image,
- wherein said synchronization processor provides a heart-rate related synchronization signal derived from said at least one hemodynamic signal representative of a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter and other patient monitoring signals including an ECG (electrocardiogram) or ICEG (intra-cardiac electrogram) signal and a first group of said different transducer groups is activated in response to said at least one hemodynamic signal representative of a blood flow related parameter and a second group of said different transducer groups is activated in response to said ECG or ICEG signal;
- and a display processor for presenting said single composite ultrasound image, acquired by said ultrasound image acquisition device, to a user on a reproduction device.
16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said image acquisition device adaptively selects image pixel resolution of individual image frames of said anatomical images in response to data identifying a heart cycle segment to acquire successive image frames having different image pixel resolutions within a single heart cycle.
5152290 | October 6, 1992 | Freeland |
5846202 | December 8, 1998 | Ramamurthy et al. |
5876345 | March 2, 1999 | Eaton et al. |
5993390 | November 30, 1999 | Savord et al. |
6168564 | January 2, 2001 | Teo |
6224553 | May 1, 2001 | Nevo et al. |
6306095 | October 23, 2001 | Maslak |
6390982 | May 21, 2002 | Bova et al. |
6488629 | December 3, 2002 | Saetre |
6510337 | January 21, 2003 | Heuscher et al. |
6626831 | September 30, 2003 | Maslak |
6673018 | January 6, 2004 | Friedman et al. |
6824518 | November 30, 2004 | von Behren et al. |
7314446 | January 1, 2008 | Byrd et al. |
7542794 | June 2, 2009 | Zhang et al. |
8073211 | December 6, 2011 | Halmann |
20040039286 | February 26, 2004 | Kuban et al. |
20050197572 | September 8, 2005 | Williams et al. |
20050267453 | December 1, 2005 | Wong et al. |
20060155192 | July 13, 2006 | Rasmussen |
20080170654 | July 17, 2008 | Tkaczyk et al. |
20080177181 | July 24, 2008 | Hastings |
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 16, 2010
Date of Patent: Oct 14, 2014
Patent Publication Number: 20100210945
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. (Malvern, PA)
Inventor: Hongxuan Zhang (Palatine, IL)
Primary Examiner: Tse Chen
Assistant Examiner: Jason Ip
Application Number: 12/706,106
International Classification: A61B 8/00 (20060101); A61B 6/00 (20060101); A61B 8/08 (20060101); A61B 5/0205 (20060101);